Rolling mill platform



March 22, 1960 E T JUDGE ET AL 2,929,280

ROLLING MILL PLATFORM Filed Nov. 15, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q w., Y w (QN N N Q i@ @e gm INVENToHs Enum T. runas Gle-once FosrER MJWMMV-#ndMarch 22, 1960 E. T. JUDGE ETAI- ROLLING MILL PLATFORM 6 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed NOV. l5, 1955 ER sm". mr u T. F un... NRG m w E E6 Warsaw, M, M Yalsa-,u

ATTORNEYS March 22, 1960 E T JUDGE ETAL ROLLING MILL PLATFORM 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. l5, 1955 A-r'roRNEYS March 22, 1960 E, T.JUDGE ETAL 2,929,280

ROLLING MILL PLATFORM Filed Nov. l5, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORSEnwnnn T. Tuna E 6 Eonoe Fosf ER March 22, 1960 E. T. JUDGE ETAL2,929,280

ROLLING MILL PLATFORM Filed Nov. 15, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. T. JUDGEETAL ROLLING MILL PLATFORM March 22, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed NOV.l5, 1955 INVENTDBS EDuMRLD T, Tu aie-E 659,155 Fas'rER ATTO!) EVSROLLING MILL PLATFORM Application November 15, 1955, Serial No. 547,005

Claims priority, application Great Britain April 2, 1953 7 Claims. (Cl.80-1) This application is a continuationinpart of Serial No. 419,526,filed March 29,'1954, now abandoned.

' This invention relates to rolling mill plant, and has for an object toprovide a plant which can be .readily lconverted from one, embodyinguniversal mills for rolling special I and H shaped sections to one,embodying standard structural mills for rolling standard sections,joists, channels, angles and the like, thus avoiding the necessity oflaying down two separate plants.

The invention is particularly concerned with that section of the plantwhich operates upon the bloom and hereinafter referred to as the nishingmill section. This section follows the section of the plant where theingot has been rolled into a bloom and precedes the section of the plantwhere the finally shaped work is cut to length and transferred to thestock bays.

Both in the case of a plant employing universal beam mills and a plantemploying structural mills, a number of mill housings are located atspaced stations, and work supporting tables are arranged between thestations and are provided with driven rollers whereby the work iscarried from housing to housing until it reaches the final housingwhereafter it is cut to length and delivered to the stock bay.

It will be appreciated that the plant as a whole is extremely costly andcovers a considerable area, particularly as heretofore when universalbeams are required to be' produced as well as channels, angles, and thelike, it has been necessary to provide two complete mill plants. Thepresent invention avoids that necessity.

As is known, a universal beam mill stand suitable for rolling special Hor I sections comprises a pair of housings, in which two rolls aremounted one above the other with axes parallel and these rolls aresubstantially larger in diameter than the rolls employed in a standardstructural mill stand. In the universal beam mill, the rolls are of sucha length in an axial direction between the housings, as to correspond tothe distance apart of the anges of the section being rolled in thatparticular mill, and two rolls, each mounted to rotate about an uprightaxis are arranged one opposite one end face of each of two hori- 5zontal rolls, and the other arranged opposite the other end face of eachhorizontal roll. The web portion of the joist is thus formed by rollingbetween the two hori` zontal rolls, while the flanges are worked betweenthe end faces o f the horizontal rolls and vertical rolls, the gapbetween all these faces being adjustable. Since the edges of the liangesare not confined during this process, theyl require to be rolled tolength in a separate supplementary mill; for this purpose the work ispassed through what is known as an edging mill. This comprises twosuperimposed horizontal rolls mounted in two housings,'and these are ofthe same order of diameter as the rolls employed in a standardstructural mill. The rolls are reduced in diameter at opposite ends, s othat: the larger part.: n ts snugly between the anges of the Work, butmay be clearpfthe. web portion, land the' vsmaller diameter porttesPatent ricc 'lianges A Standard structural mill stand comprises a pairof housings in which are rotatably mounted a number of lhorizontalrolls, one above the other, and having their peripheries shaped inlaccordance with the required section of the work which is passedbetween them. It'is usual for the rolls -to be provided with a number ofshaping portions arranged side-by-side and arranged to provide Vspaceso'fdiminishing area between them, means being provided Afor shifting thework bodily in a transverse direction after it has Vbeen passedbackwards and forwards between 'two of the shaping portions so that itcan then be introduced between two other shaping portions. One form ofshifting means comprises traversing tables.

In the case of aluniversal beam mill, as the work is passed backwardsand forwards between the combined horizontal vertical rolls the -saidrolls are adjusted towards one another, between the passes, until theweb and flange portions of the work are of the required thickness. Asindicated above, the rolls of the structural mill are of the same orderof diameter jas the rolls in an edging mill, but are smaller in diameterthan the horizontal rolls employed in the universal beam mill. The powerrequired for driving a universal beam mill is of the same order as thatrequired for driving a standard structural mill, whereas the powerrequired for driving an edging mill is considerably smaller. Thedimensions of the stand for a standard structural mill may besubstantially the same as that of an edging mill, but considerablysmaller than that of a stand 'for a universal beam mill.

In the specification o'f application No. 419,526, now abandoned, thereis described a finishing mill section for a rolling mill plantcomprising a number of mill-housingsupporting-platforms spaced apartalong the direction of travel of the work, any Vof which platforms isadapted to support either a universal beam mill and a two-high edgingmill combination or a structural mill. Two roller tables of differentlengths are associated with each platform, either of which is adapted tobe brought opposite the platform and which shorter table when inposition leaves sufficient space on the platform for accommodating auniversal mill, and a 'two-high edging mill combination, and whichlonger table when in position, overlaps the platform, leaving sufficientspace for accommodating a structural mill and additional roller tableextending between adjacent platforms. There i's also described in thespecication the 'provision of twordiiferent horse power driving vunitsassociated with each platform, the higher horsepower motor beingarranged to drive either a universal mill or a structural mill,whereasthe lower horse power motor is arranged to drive the two-highedging mill combination. Since the dimensions for lthe stand of astandard structural mill are usually substantially the same as that ofan edging mill but considerably smallerv than that of a stand for auniversal mill and since the universal mill and structural mill Varerequired to be driven by the same higher horsepower driving unit, in

the construction of Patent Application No. 419,526 now abandoned therewas provided at each station a base plate so shaped and dimensioned asto provide on one part thereof, two pairs of supporting shoulders foraccommodating the different sized bases of the structural and universalmills. The object of the present invention is to avoid the necessity ofproviding two sets of different 's curing arrangements opposite thehigher horse power driving unit. l

According to this invention a finishing mill section for' a rolling'millplant comprisesa number of mill-housingf supportingfplatforms spacedapart along the A,drefctic'in of travel ofthe work, ayotwhiehA'platforms is 'provi edf with two identical locating and securing meanstspacedJ apart in the direction of the travel of the work, each adaptedto support either a universal mill or` a two high edging mill or astructural mill, which mills have similar sized bases. Two roller tablesof diierent lengths, are associated with each platform, either of whichis adapted to be brought opposite the platform, which shorter table whenin position leaves sutiicient space on the platform for accommodating auniversal mill and a two-high edging mill combination'and which longertable when in position overlaps the platform leaving sutiicient spacefor accommodating a structural mill and additional roller tablesextending between adjacent platforms. There may be provided for use onone side of each station, two exchangeable removable table portions ofdifferent lengths so that different sized gaps are formed at saidstation according to which of the two exchangeable tables are employed.The longer of the two exchangeable tables may be employed as atraversing table.

The removabletable portion or portions, may be arranged either on thesupply side or on the delivery side of each mill station. Y

Each of the removable table portions may be provided with a motor fordriving its rollers. Each removable table portion may be mounted on acarriage supported on rails by means of wheels, which rails extendtransversely to the direction of the travel of the work so as tofacilitate their introduction and withdrawal; also in a case where atable is employed as a traversing table it enables the table to be movedbetween successive passes of the work. Those rails which are arranged tosupport the exchangeabletables are arranged to extend on opposite sidesof the line of travel of the work, so that the larger of the two tableportions may be moved away in one direction and the smaller tableportion in the other direction.

In any of the arrangements referred to above, each carriage may beprovided with a motor for driving its wheels.

There may be provided at each station, a base plate so shaped anddimensioned that it will accommodate on one part thereof either a standfor a universal mill or a stand for a standard structural mill and so asto accommodate on another part thereof a stand of an edging mill.

In the case where the stands for the universal mill and for the standardstructural mill have different sized bases then at the first saidlocation there are provided two alternative means for locating thedifferent sized bases. However, in designing the stands their bases maybe arranged to be of the same size whereby only a single locating meansis required on the base at the first said location.

l A convertible finishing section for a rolling mill plant may thuscomprise at each station a standard structural mill, a universal beammill, and an edging mill, and means for moving said mills into and outof position. Standard equipment may be provided for this purpose, suchas an overhead crane.

In order to avoid the necessity of providing separate stands for theedging mill and the standard structural mill, since the dimensions areapproximately of the same size, the edging mill roll housings may be sodesigned as to accommodate either edging mill rolls or structural millrolls.

There may be located at each station, two power units,

one of suicient power for driving either the universal the finishingsection of a' rolling mill plant and showing a universal beam millandfanedging mill ateachHof-two stations;

Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 but showing the plantY set upwith standard structural mills;

Figure 3 is a part vertical section and part side elcvation of themechanism at one station of the plant set up for a universal beam milland edging mill to the right of Fig. l;

Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 showing the set up at a stationfor a standard structural mill;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the roller table on one side of the millstand for the set up shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section on the line A--A of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of amillhousing-supporting-platform showing the base portions of a universalmill stand and edging mill stand in position and represents the lefthand end of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure l the work in the form of a bloom partly formed intoa joist shape is conveyed from the right hand end of the figure by theroller table 10 onto a table I1 which moves the work to the left througha universal mill Al2. and thence through an edging millv 13 on toanother roller table 14 the direction ofthe rollers on the two tables 11and 14 being periodically reversed so that the work is passed backwardsand forwards through the two mills, the rolls of which are adjustedbetween passes so as gradually to reduce the section of the work.

There are provided at each station two power units, one comprisingmotors 15 and 17 for driving respectively the upper and lower rolls ofeither a universal mill or a structural mill through driving shafts,only one of which 19 appears in the drawing, and the other power unitcomprising two motors 16 and 18 which drive respectively the upper andlower rolls of an edging mill through driving shafts, only one of which20 is shown. The driving shafts are provided with detachable couplingsthe top ones of which 21 and 22, are shown in Fig. 2. When the requiredreduction at this station has been effected, the work is passed on tothe roller tables 23, whence it passes to a feed table 14 of identicalconstruction as the previ-l ously mentioned table 14, thenthrough-another edging mill 13, which in this case is arranged on theright hand side of the universal mill 12, and which work then passesthrough 12 and on to the table 11, which is of identical constructionbut differently handed to previously mentioned table 11. Again in thisinstance, the rollers of the two tables 11 and 14 are periodicallyreversed so that the work is passed backwards and forwards through thetwo mills. After the work has been reduced to the required size, it ispassed onto the roller table 24 and then to a locality where the work iscut to length whereafter it is passed to cooling beds and thence tostock bays. l As will be seen, a further roller table 25 is alsoprovided at each station to one side of the roller table 14 and of agreater length than that table. The ends of the tables 14 and 25 nearerthe conveyor table 23 are arranged in line, so that the longer table 25projects beyond the edging mill 13. The table 14 is mounted on rails 26,extending to one side of the conveyor table 23, whereas the table 25 issupported on rails 27 extending to the other side of the conveyor table.The tables 11 are supported on further rails 28. As indicated later, thetables 11, 14 and 25 are supported by wheels driven respectively bymotors 53, 45 and 45".

' As previously explained, the edging mill 13 can have its rollsreplaced by rolls suitable for a structural mill, thus when a conversionis required to be made from the set up shown in Figure 1 to that shownin Figure 2,

the couplings 21 and 22 are released, the universal mill' Figure l is aplan view showing the general layout of4 12 is lifted out of positionand deposited at a suitable location, and the edging mill now convertedto a structural mill is lifted into the place of the universal mills*The table 14 is moved to one side and the table -25 is arranged to takeits place Kwhen the plant is ready for.Iv operation.

` Referrtignowl to Figure 3, this showslthe set-.unof-` the mechanism atthe station to the right of Figure 1. As will be seen at this stationthree separate frame members 32a, B2b, and 32C are inset in concrete toform a supporting platform. The members are provided with sockets 6 foraccommodating respectively one rail of each pair of rails 26, 27, 28.The members are so shaped as to provide countersunk supporting shoulders35 and inwardly directed iianges 36. The upper edges of the anges arechamfered at 37. On one side of the frame is supported an edging millstand 9 and on the other side a universal mill stand 8. Both the standsare provided with similar sized bases having feet 38 which are shaped torest on the shoulders 35 and chamfered portions 37. Hooked shaped bolts39 extend through holes 7 in the feet and engage the underside of theanges 36 and their upper ends are provided with clamping cotters 40. Tothe left of the edging mill stand in Figure 3 there is disposed acarriage 42 for the roller table 14 which carriage is mounted by meansof wheels 43 on raiis 26 which extend across and are inset in a socketformed in one of the end members 32a of the platform. The wheels arearranged to be driven through gearing 44 from the motor 45 mounted onthe carriage (see Figure 6). One end of the roller table 14 remote fromthe housing 9 is pivotally connected on a horizontal axis to thecarriage 42, and which carriage is provided at the other end with ascrew jack 47 (see Figure 6) engaging the underside of the table framewhereby the height of the end of the table adjacent the edging millstand may be adjusted. The table has mounted upon it a motor 48 whichdrives the various rollers through a bevel gearing 49, and through areduction gearbox 50. Each roller table 11 is likewise supported on acarriage 51 (see Figure 3) having wheels 52 mounted on the rails 2S andthese wheels are driven by a motor 53 seen in Figure 5, whereas therollers on the table are driven by the motor 54 carried by the table.

As in the case of the roller table 14, the table 11 is pivotally mountedon a horizontal axis at one end of the carriage and provided with ascrew jack 47 at the other end.

As will be seen from Figure 4 the stand for the universal mill has beenremoved, and either the stand of the edging mill which has beenconverted to one for a standard structural mill, or a conventionalstructural mill, is placed in position of the universal mill stand. Thetable 14 has been moved to one side and the table 25 takes its place,this table is supported on a carriage provided with wheels 56 which runon the rails 27.

As in the case of the other tables, -it is pivotally carried on ahorizontal axis at one end of the carriage, and is provided with a screwjack 47 at the other end; similarly the assemblage is provided with twomotors 4S and 48, the former driving the supporting wheels 56 and thelatter driving the rollers.

As will be seen from Figure 4 the table 25 extends over that part of thebase plate which previously supported the stand for the edging mill sothat its end is now closely adjacent the stand which has been moved tothe new position; on the other hand, since structural mill stand isconsiderably narrower than the stand for the universal mill, which ithas replaced, a substantial gap 57 is left between it and the adjacentend of the roller table 11, and it may be of advantage in certaininstances to provide a mounting 58 from which a roller 59 (Figure 5) canbe readily introduced to ll the gap.

As will be seen l,from Figure 6, the screw jacks 47 may .be arranged tobe actuated by a third motor 60 connected to them through a suitablegearbox 61 and transmission 62. The motor may be mounted on a crossmember 63 spanning the main frame member 64 of the carriage.

f The v'positions of the mill stands and carriages are reversed at theleft hand of the station of Figure 1 as best seen in Figure 7.

What we claim is:

1. A unitary supporting platform for two rolling mill housingscomprising three separate elongated frame members fixed apart inparallel relationship, the center one of which members is formed alongthe center thereof with locating means for a rail and on both sidesthereof with locating means for base portions of the two mill housingsand each of which outer frame members is also provided with locatingmeans for a rail and on the inner side of said locating means additionallocating means for one of said housings. y

2. A unitary supporting platform for two mill housings according toclaim l wherein the locating means for each of said rails comprises asocket formed in an upper face of each frame member.

3. A unitary supporting platform for two mill housings according toclaim 1 wherein each locating means for a base portion of a mill housingcomprises an upwardly facing shoulder one side of which is chamfered.

4. A unitary supporting platform for two mill housings according toclaim l wherein each locating means for a base portion of a mill housingis formed on a flange extending laterally away from the locating meansfor a rail.

5. A unitary supporting platform for two rolling mill housings inaccordance with claim l, including a rail located on said center memberbetween said mill housing located means, and a rail secured to each ofthe other members.

6. A unitary supporting platform for a rolling mill housing comprisingan elongated member, a railmounted along the center of said member, apair of surfaces on either side of said rail for supporting a rollingmill housing and a second pair of surfaces beneath said first mentionedpair of surfaces for locking engagement with said mill housing.

7. A supporting platform for rolling mill housings and work supportingtables comprising three separate elongated frame members xed apart inparallel relationship, each frame member having a rail mounted thereon,the center frame member being formed on both sides with locating meansfor base portions of the mill housings, the outer frame member beingformed on one side with locating means for the base portions of millhousings, each locating means including a at portion and a beveledportion, the housing locating means in a side frame member co-operatingwith the nearest housing locating means on the center frame member tosupport a mill housing, the housing locating means on said lastmentioned side frame member co-operating with the rail on said sideframe member to support the near end of a work supporting table in closeproximity to one side of said mill housing, the housing locating meanson the center frame member co-operating with the rail on said centerframe member to support the near end of a work supporting table in closeproximity to the other side of said mill housing.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS247,665

